Job seekers be warned
FERNDALE – Job seekers are warned to be aware of criminals who might take advantage of them with fake offers.
Online marketplace Gumtree has recently warned job seekers of criminals who might try to take advantage of them, demanding fees for job placement or contacting them with fake offers.
Tracey Johnson, senior legal and executive council from Dante Personnel Recruitment in Ferndale, who has been in the recruitment agency for 20 years, said scams are on the increase.
She, however, gave some tips that job seekers could use to protect themselves from bogus recruitment agencies.
Here are the following steps:
• No candidate should be told that they should pay for anything. Walk out if they ask you to pay any fee, they are trying to make money out of your misfortunes.
It is highly illegal and unethical. The client is the one who is supposed to pay and not the candidate. It is illegal for job seekers to pay any amount.
• Google the company – look at their history and check how long they have been around, and ensure that the agency is registered.
Check if they have a landline and make sure that the address and phone numbers exist.
For all you know, that person might be sending out job posts from a restaurant and requesting you to pay.
• Contact Apso which is the Federation of African Professionals Staffing Organisation and check if the company or recruitment agency that wants to give you a job is a member, and if they are operating legally. Apso would be able to assist anyone who would like to find out about a company.
• Trust your instinct.
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